524 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



the animal struggles violently whilst down ; works itself on 

 to its side in spite of all precautions ; dashes its head wildly 

 about ; bellows, groans, and strains violently ; very shortly the 

 abdomen becomes tympanitic, and the breathing more laboured 

 and difficult ; there is eructation of foetid gases from the rumen, 

 and death rapidly supervenes. 



In other cases consciousness in some degree returns, the eyes 

 become natural, the cow pricks its ears as if it once more 

 could hear sounds, the secretion of milk returns, the body cools, 

 and seems as if convalescence were in reality established. These 

 flattering signs are, however, too often succeeded by a return of 

 the worst symptoms, and it very frequently succumbs. 



In some instances the bowels may be relaxed in the earlier 

 stages ; and this will greatly depend upon the previous treatment 

 of the animal. This is, however, very soon succeeded by non- 

 excretion both of faeces and urine. Constipation, or rather non- 

 passage of the faeces, is always a marked sign, not that there is 

 any actual dryness or costiveness, but that the muscular walls of 

 the intestines are in a paralyzed condition, the peristaltic action 

 being lost. The urine, generally pale in colour, and free from 

 albumen, scantily secreted by the kidneys, is retained in the 

 bladder, wliich has also lost its power of contractility. 



PROGNOSIS. 



I consider it a good sign, if, after the animal has fallen, it is 

 able to rise, although it fall again, and become perfectly coma- 

 tose. This conclusion is a result of experience, but I can offer 

 no explanation of it. If in the course of thirty to forty hours 

 consciousness gradually returns, and the animal makes attempts, 

 but not too violent, to rise, the bowels commence to act, the 

 secretion of milk, and a desire for food return, a successful ter- 

 mination, at least of the apoplexy, may reasonably be expected. 

 If, on the contrary, the sphincters relax, the coma becomes more 

 and more profound, or the delirium continue, and if, in addition 

 to these, the dropping of the jaw and oral breathing, which are 

 always indicative of grave lesions, become manifest, a fatal issue 

 is to be expected. 



